Lifestyle Scientists Want to Ban Glitter, Just in Time for the Holiday Season By Olivia Bahou Olivia Bahou Facebook Olivia Solomon is a New York-based writer and editor who covers all things fashion, lifestyle, celebrity, and pop culture. She was previously the Assistant Digital Editor for InStyle, and her work has appeared in many national publications. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on November 30, 2017 @ 04:45PM Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Getty Images Glitter isn’t just annoying to handle: It’s also terrible for the environment, at least according to these scientists. Researcher Trisia Farrelly, a senior lecturer in environment and planning at New Zealand’s Massey University, wants the substance banned for good, according to Fortune. Glitter is essentially made out of tiny pieces of microplastics, which are an environmental hazard for the oceans. If they get into the environment, microplastics can cause pollution, bring chemicals into the water, and even pose harm to marine life if ingested. Similar to glitter are microbeads, which are common in some face washes and body scrubs. The U.S. already has a partial ban on microbeads, and the U.K. is implementing a similar policy next year. VIDEO: How to Remove Glitter Varnish So could a ban on glitter (aka microplastics) be next? Scientists certainly hope so, citing the dangerous effect it has on the environment. Not to worry, though, you could still get your sparkly fix somehow: Certain retailers make environmentally friendly glitter that is biodegradable, which could escape a potential ban.